nd but few of the men, went below
that night. The military officers took their turn at the pumps to
relieve their men; for, although so many were ready for the duty, so
great was the exertion required, that they could continue at it but a
few minutes together. As soon as one man was knocked up, another sprang
into his place.

Another day dawned. It is easy to imagine how anxiously the night had
been spent by all on board, especially by the poor ladies and soldiers'
wives. Happy were those who knew the power and effect of prayer.
Wonderfully had they been supported. Those who knew not how to pray had
been seated with hands clasped, or lying down with their heads covered
up, endeavouring to shut out all thought of the future. Mrs Morley and
her daughters had remained in their cabin, calm, though not unmoved,
visited every now and then by the colonel; yet he could afford them but
little consolation with regard to the safety of the ship. All he could
say was that the men were doing their duty, and that they must hope for
the best.

Ensign Holt had been missed by his brother officers, and roused up, not
very gently, and had been compelled to take his turn at the pumps. He
ought to have been very much obliged to them, as those are best off who
are actively engaged in times of danger, though he grumbled
considerably, declaring that it was not in the articles of war, and that
he did not see why he should be made to work at the pumps like the
common men.

As the day advanced, though the weather remained thick and lowering, the
wind began to abate; yet the sea ran still very high, and the ship
laboured greatly. The seamen were making preparations, however, to set
up jury-masts, the carpenter and his crew were busy in lashing the spars
together for the purpose, and the boatswain and his party in preparing
the rigging; but while the ship continued pitching and rolling as she
was then doing, it would be impossible to set up the masts. "I often
wished to encounter a gale of wind," observed Peter Patch to Willy;
"but, to confess the honest truth, now I know what it is, especially in
these cold regions, I would rather have been excused."

CHAPTER SIX.

MORE ICE.

HOPES OF ESCAPE--HARRY'S ADVICE TO WILLY--AMONG ICEBERGS--WONDERFUL
APPEARANCE OF ICE ISLANDS--GETTING UP JURY-MASTS--DRIFTING TOWARDS AN
ICEBERG--THE ICEBERGS MOVING--THE SHIP STRIKES A BERG--CONSTERNATION OF
PASSENGERS--THE SOLDIERS AT THE PUMPS--SHIP D